A decision regarding what penalties and sanctions will be handed down to Essendon is expected today.
ESSENDON coach James Hird has arrived at AFL House to front the AFL Commission on charges that could see him banned from the game for 12 months.
Hird and his legal team, including human rights campaigner Julian Burnside SC, are expected to tell the commission that his Supreme Court action challenging the Commission's right to hear charges against the Bombers star has not been withdrawn.
All four individuals charged - Hird, Mark Thompson, Danny Corcoran and club doctor Bruce Reid - are now at AFL House, along with Hird's lawyer, Essendon chairman Paul Little and acting CEO Ray Gunston.
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The Commission is expected to detail proposed penalties against Hird, most likely a 12-month suspension from any AFL activity, and precise details of the formal charges.
It would be open to Hird then to back away from his court action and to accept the sanction, as part of a wider Essendon penalties package, or to declare he will fight on in court.
Hird has claimed he has been denied natural justice by the AFL and said the AFL Commission, including CEO Andrew Demetriou, should be barred from considering charges against him.
HIRD PREPARES FOR THE LONG GAME
Essendon is clinging to the hope it could retain prized draft picks as part of a deal that will see it stood down from the finals today.
Essendon's president says he's confident the club can reach an agreement over punishment for the drugs saga.
The supplements drama will come to a dramatic resolution when Essendon bows out of finals consideration, with Hird almost certain to have coached his last game of the year.
The AFL Commission is currently meeting at AFL House where it is expected to hand down the punishment for Hird and the Bombers.
Essendon chairman Paul Little and the club's acting chief executive, Ray Gunston, arrived at AFL House at about 1pm.
Commission members were seen arriving at league headquarters this morning.
Hird has been considering abandoning Supreme Court action and submitting to a 12-month ban demanded by the AFL ahead of a return in 2015.
Essendon assistant coach Mark Thompson reacts to photographers as he arrives at the AFL Commission hearing. Picture Wayne Ludbey
The Bombers coach today went to Windy Hill for a few hours before returning home, but did not offer any comment to the waiting media pack.
It is expected senior assistant coach Mark Thompson will escape with a fine of $20,000.
Veteran club doctor Bruce Reid is understood to be preparing to stand down as early as today. He was adamant he would not be part of a compromise deal.
Essendon will be forced to accept a fine of up to $2 million. The fourth individual charged, football manager Danny Corcoran, will be stood down for three months.
The AFL's lawyers, Minter Ellison, and Essendon's QC, Jack Rush, were locked in discussions on Sunday. Hird's legal team was not directly involved.
Essendon CEO Ray Gunston and chairman Paul Little arrive at AFL House. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
KEEP HIRD'S SEAT WARM
The AFL Commission began meeting at 8am today and while many facts are agreed between the two parties, it might take all day to reach a resolution.
AFL commissioner and Wesfarmers chairman Richard Goyder arrived at AFL house around 8am.
Expecting a long day he told his driver it was unlikely he would be picked up at 4pm.
Commissioner Sam Mostyn arrived shortly before 8am. Commissioner Bill Kelty at around 8.30am.The former ACTU secretary had said he would excuse himself from AFL Commission meetings due to his friendship with Hird.
James Hird leaves his Toorak home this morning. Picture: Hamish Blair
The Bombers were lobbying the AFL to keep their draft picks or lose just the first two picks at this year's national draft in November.
They argue it would penalise the players and hurt the club for a decade, but the league has pushed for a two-year exclusion from the first two rounds of the draft.
Hird's lawyer Julian Burnside SC labelled the AFL's actions "scandalous" and accused them of bullying Hird.
But the Bombers have effectively conceded defeat. Now the club is trying to limit the damage to its reputation and future success.
An insight into what the AFL might deem acceptable was contained in a draft "accepted facts" document provided to Essendon.
Bombers club doctor Bruce Reid arrives with is legal team at AFL House. Picture: Michael Klein
It stated:
THE club failed to adequately protect the health, welfare and safety of the players.
THERE was an unacceptable risk that players may have been administered substances that were prohibited by the AFL Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Code.
THE club is unable to determine whether players were administered substances prohibited by the AFL Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Code.
Essendon has refused to sign an agreement that says officials deliberately set out to breach anti-doping rules.
Essendon football manager Danny Corcoran and his legal team arrive at AFL House Picture: Michael Klein
Hird will either accept a 12-month ban or Essendon will stand him down for next season while he continues to fight his legal battle.
But that second option looks less likely, with legal figures saying many points in his Supreme Court writ would be undermined by Essendon's guilty plea.
On Saturday night Hird issued two contradictory statements - that he wanted his punishment wrapped up in the club's sanctions, but that he wanted to clear his name first.
"First of all I want to prove I'm innocent of a lot or 99 per cent of those charges," he said.
"I look at those charges and they make me sick that they're out there and that people would believe that is the truth about me.
Essendon QC Jack Rush outside AFL House. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
"I'm determined to clear that up. Then we'll go from there about suspension or not suspension."
Bombers captain Jobe Watson on Sunday continued to express support for Hird but said the fate of his coach was beyond the club's control.
"I mean, it's not whether or not we want him to coach - it's the decision of the Commission and that's the reason there is a Commission," Watson said.
Reid is determined to protect his reputation as a medical practitioner. He has told confidantes he will continue his fight separate to Essendon.
Essendon chairman Paul Little spoke on Saturday night of a middle ground, which meant that the AFL was prepared to drop the focus on drug cheating and instead hit the Dons with governance charges.
While the sanctions are unprecedented, attention will quickly turn to who fills the coaching void.
HIRD OPENS UP AFTER GRITTY WIN
Thompson would be available given he will only be fined but has made it known he is not interested in a senior coaching position.
Former Bombers stars Mark Harvey and Neale Daniher have been linked to the club but a one-year secondment would not appeal if Hird was definitely returning.
Hird's barrister Burnside said "the AFL's bullying tactics seem to be the standard in Australia now".
James Hird and assistant coach Mark Thompson are expected to learn their fate today. Picture: Michael Klein
"The AFL seems to think it's OK to bully a bunch of individuals and a club without letting them have a fair hearing. I think the AFL's conduct has been scandalous."
- with James Dowling, Andy Burns
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